Chonburi F.C.

History

Early years (1996–2000)

In its early years, Chonburii-Sannibat Samut Prakan Football Club was Assumption College Sriracha's football team. The team was managed by Annop Singtothong, Thanasak Suraprasert, Sontaya Khunpluem, and Wittaya Khunpluem. The team competed and were victorious in many youth tournaments, including the Institute of Physical Education's youth football tournament.

In 1996, Sannibat Samut Prakan Association competed in the Khǒr Royal Cup and came in second place. The directors of the football team negotiated for a merger, which resulted in the creation of Chonburi-Sannibat Samut Prakan. The team then competed in Thai Division 1 League, today known as Thai League 2.

The Chonburi Sports Association had the chance to compete in the Provincial League in 2000. As a result, Chonburi's provincial football team was separated from Chonburi-Sannibat Samut Prakan, thus renaming themselves Chonburi Football Club, which competed in Thai Division 1 League. The team that competed in the Provincial League acquired their players from Assumption College Sriracha and Chulabhon's College Chonburi. They ended their first season in the Provincial League in third place.

In 2005, Chonburi won the Provincial League title by beating Nakhon Ratchasima at the Nakhon Ratchasima Municipal Stadium, and gained promotion to the 2006 Thailand Premier League with the Provincial League runners up, Suphanburi. This title was the first major success of the club.

In 2006, Chonburi were invited by Football Association of Singapore (FAS) to play in the 2006 Singapore Cup and reached the cup final, defeating local sides Home United, Albirex Niigata (S) and Balestier Khalsa along the way. In the final, they lost 2–3 to Tampines Rovers in extra time after leading 2–0. Chonburi then finished 8th in the 2006 Thai Premier League season.

First major success (2007–2014)

In 2007, Chonburi were again invited to participate in the 2007 Singapore Cup, but were defeated in the first round against Balestier Khalsa, in a replay of the previous season's semi-finals, where Chonburi lost 3–2. Chonburi went on to win the 2007 Kor Royal Cup. Coming to the end of this season, Chonburi became Thailand Premier League champions for the 2007 season. This was the first trophy in major league for the club. Head coach Jadet Meelarp won the 'Coach of the Year' award and Pipob On-Mo got 'Player of the Year' award. The club qualified to the 2008 AFC Champions League after winning the league.

In July 2008, the previous sponsor, Hemaraj Land and Development PLC signed a major sponsorship deal which would come into effect from 2009. The contract would run for three years and would amount to the sum of 18 million baht (about 350,000 Euros). This may be the largest completed sponsorship of a Thai football club which was ever completed.

At the end of the 2008 season, there was only enough for runner-up. The main reason for this was certainly the profligacy. With two games left in the season you still on the first place in the table, but a 0–0 draw against Samut Songkhram made to naught in the penultimate round of the dream title defense. Jadet Meelarp was dismissed. His successor was officially announced in mid-December 2008. Kiatisuk Senamuang was appointed the head coach of Chonburi.

In 2008, Chonburi made their debut in the 2008 AFC Champions League season being drawn in group G alongside Japanese club Gamba Osaka, Australian club Melbourne Victory and Korean club Chunnam Dragons. Chonburi played their first game against Gamba Osaka on 12 March, where the team was seconds away from their first ever win in their debut match in the tournament, but opponent Lucas Severino scored the equaliser for the opponent, equalising it at 1–1, which saw Chonburi register their first point in the tournament. On 20 March, the club achieved its first victory in the AFC Champions League against Melbourne Victory. The game was clouded by controversy when Melbourne Victory scored their only goal whilst a Chonburi player was down injured and his teammates were calling for the ball to be played off the park. It mattered little when Cameroonian striker Jules Baga scored a goal from 35 yards out and then followed it up with a second goal in extra time to condemn Melbourne Victory to their first loss in the competition 3–1. Chonburi finished the campaign with 5 points, finishing at the bottom of the group stage, thus knocking out from the tournament. Chonburi finished as the league runners-up in 2008 thus seeing the club qualified for the 2009 AFC Cup.

Team image

Video games

In August 2013, Top Eleven, a popular football management simulation developed by Nordeus, introduced official club items for Chonburi to its in-game club shop. These items included the club’s official logo and home and away jerseys, allowing Top Eleven managers to purchase and represent the Thai club within the game’s virtual environment.

Academy development

Chonburi is well known for producing football talent as well as using their youth players in the first team. In the 2007 Thailand Premier League in which they have been crowned champions, over 80% of their first-team players came from their youth program. However, in the past, their youth players stayed at boarding schools in Chonburi province such as Assumption College Sriracha and Chulabhon's College Chonburi.

Today, Chonburi has a football academy where academy players train and live every day at. The idea of creating a football academy was spearheaded by former Chonburi head coach and current technical director Witthaya Laohakul, who stressed the importance of creating and producing quality football players for the first team. In 2009, Chonburi decided to remodel its academy and youth program by building an actual football academy in Ban Bueng District. The new academy is located far away from Chonburi surrounded by paddy fields and was once rented out to JMG Academy. This new football academy includes a dormitory and football training facilities for the academy players.

Chonburi recruits academy players by scouting them from tournaments as well as offering trials. Worachit Kanitsribampen is one of the first successful players to come out of Chonburi's newly restructured academy. As of 2025, Chonburi Academy are one of only four academies in Southeast Asia to be conferred a Two-Star academy status alongside Johor Darul Ta'zim Academy, NFDP Mokhtar Dahari Academy in Malaysia and Lion City Sailors Academy in Singapore.

Stadium

At the start of the 2007 season, Chonburi used the Chonburi Municipality Stadium as their home ground which can hold up to 5,000 capacity. Due to disagreements with the local authorities, the club played its home games at the Princess Sirindhorn Stadium in 2009 before moving their home ground again with IPE Chonburi Stadium as their home ground in 2010.

With Chonburi winning the league title in 2008 which sees them qualified to the 2008 AFC Champions League, Chonburi played their home ground at the National Stadium which reach FIFA stadium requirements standard to host an AFC tournament. The club also used the stadium for their home games in the 2009 AFC Cup.

Permanent home ground

In the 2011 season, Chonburi move to Chonburi Stadium after the stadium was completely build and reach the FIFA requirements to host their home games in the AFC Cup thus becoming a permanent home ground for the club. The stadium can hold up to 8,000 capacity.

In 2019, Chonburi used the Sattahip Navy Stadium as a temporary venue while the Chonburi Stadium is being renovated.

Affiliated clubs

Manchester City (2007)

Chonburi have maintained partnerships with Manchester City for player development and technical cooperation, following the takeover of the Premier League club by former Thailand Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra. During this period, youth and reserve players were loaned to Chonburi and coaching expertise was shared, contributing to the club’s professional development and their first Thai Premier League title in 2007.

Vissel Kobe (2012)

Chonburi announced a business partnership between Vissel Kobe of the J1 League in 2012. The deal will facilitate player and staff exchanges both at the professional and youth level, as well as friendly matches, the creation of new football schools, and marketing opportunities.

Players

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Note 1: The official club website lists the supporters as player 12th man.

Note 2: Players who are AFC Champions League quota foreign players are listed in bold.

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Management and staff

Honours

League

Thai League 1

Winners (1): 2007

Runners-up (5): 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014

Thai League 2

Winners (1): 2024–25

Provincial League:

Winners (1): 2005

Cups

FA Cup

Winners (2): 2010, 2016

Runners-up (2): 2014, 2020–21

Kor Royal Cup:

Winners (4): 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012

Records and statistics

As of 27 January 2026

Biggest wins:

7–0 vs Uttaradit (4 July 2018)

7–0 vs Kalasin Sauropod (8 November 2020)

7–0 vs Khon Kaen United (25 September 2021)

Heaviest defeats: 9–0 vs FC Tokyo (9 February 2016)

Youngest goal scorers: Nititorn Sripramarn ~ 17 years 11 months 3 days old (on 4 July 2018 vs Uttaradit)

Oldest goal scorers: Therdsak Chaiman ~ 40 years 8 months 24 days old (on 22 June 2014 vs TOT)

Youngest ever debutant: Pacharaphol Lekkun ~ 16 years 7 months 25 days old (on 29 January 2023 vs BG Pathum United)

Oldest ever player: Therdsak Chaiman ~ 42 years 2 months 14 days old (on 13 December 2015 vs Saraburi)

Former players

For details on former players, see List of Chonburi players and Category: Chonburi players.

Managerial history

Chonburi managers by years (2004–present)